Amish students learn how to save lives

Heimlich Heroes in 10 Cincinnati schools, reaching 523 students

Debbie Wolfer, left, of Anderson Township and Michelle Mellea of Loveland teach a class of Amish sixth-graders how to correctly perform the Heimlich maneuver. The Heimlich Heroes curriculum is now in 10 Cincinnati schools and should reach 523 students by the end of the school year. Mellea, a Ph.D. and curriculum developer, teaches sixth-graders at Bethany School in Glendale.

Sixth-graders from the Ohio Amish community at Wise Elementary School in Holmes County are better equipped to save family and friends from choking deaths.

Twenty-eight Amish children learned the correct way to perform the Heimlich maneuver recently as part of a Heimlich Heroes curriculum demonstration taught at their school. Heimlich Heroes program coordinator Debbie Wolfer of Anderson Township and curriculum developer Michelle Mellea of Loveland brought six Heidi Heimlich dolls designed to help students learn how to perform the maneuver.

The science class trekked to the gymnasium, where they split into small groups and practiced. Instruction was led by Wolfer, Mellea, science teacher Heidi Olinger, school district nurse Tami Bucklew and local EMT Tracy Cooper.

The 42-inch dolls have a hardily-constructed ribcage that mimics human anatomy and a plastic mouth that expels a peanut-sized foam cushion when the maneuver is demonstrated correctly.

In Amish communities, children typically leave school after eighth-grade, so knowing first aid and the Heimlich maneuver are essential skills, Bucklew said.

"This is lifesaving," Bucklew said. "People are never too young to learn, and what I have found is that these kids will take what they learn home with them and teach their younger siblings and their parents. Reaching youth with this kind of lifesaving information is really the place to start this kind of training. They are willing to learn and I have gotten great feedback from parents when it comes to health and safety."

Bucklew is seeking grant funding to have the Heimlich Heroes curriculum return to Holmes County. The trip into Amish Country was a departure for Wolfer and Mellea, who have focused this year on expanding the Heimlich Heroes program in greater Cincinnati schools. Wolfer said the Heimlich Heroes program is in10 schools in Cincinnati and will have reached 523 students by the end of this school year. Wolfer anticipates expanding into schools nationwide over time.

"Hopefully, within a couple of years everyone will know exactly what the Heimlich Heroes program is," Wolfer said. "We want to be able to reach all kids, because Dr. Heimlich feels that all kids can be heroes, no matter the age."

"The three-stage curriculum is a fun, educational and lifesaving addition to every school's science department," Wolfer said. "It's about giving the kids confidence to be able to do this. They really can be superheroes; there are data nationwide showing kids of all ages saving lives through the Heimlich."

Wolfer added that the hands-on activity with the dolls allows students to experience lifesaving success firsthand. Practicing the maneuver on the doll reinforces a child's ability to perform it correctly if it would be necessary in real life. The Heimlich Heroes program has 49 training dolls on hand.